Control of a carrier supporting a plurality thread insertion means in a loom



June 26, 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,040,782

CONTROL OF A CARRIER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY THREAD INSERTION MEANS IN A LOOM Filed July 15. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. [kw/1v HARRWHLLER BY Ml/M VL flfforney June 26, 1962 PFARRWALLER 3,040,782

CONTROL OF A CARRIER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY THREAD INSERTION MEANS IN A LOOM Filed July 15, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fllq. 2

77 I 14 12 17 27 23 l/ W 1s 15 1a 32 24 I 55 54 5228 h 59 um 53 43 3 :34? H H 65 I E 48.81 \gg 45 4"; mob" Inventor? June 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,

CONTROL OF A CARRIER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY THREAD INSERTION MEANS IN A LOOM Filed July 15. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

[Rm/v IDFARRWFILLFR BY /f if June 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,040,782

CONTROL OF A CARRIER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY THREAD INSERTION MEANS IN A LOOM Filed July 15, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 J1me 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,040,782

CONTROL OF A CARRIER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY THREAD INSERTION MEANS IN A LOOM Filed July 15, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 J1me 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,040,782

CONTROL OF A CARRIER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY THREAD INSERTION MEANS IN A LOOM Filed July 15, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 26, 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,040,782

CONTROL OF A CARRIER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY THREAD INSERTION MEANS IN A LOOM Filed July 15, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 June 26, 1962 E. PFARRWALLER 3,04

CONTROL OF A CARRIER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY THREAD INSERTION MEANS IN A LOOM Filed July 15, 1960 8 h e t 8 P J e states QONTRQL @F A QARRIER SUPZ 'IBRTTLJG A PULL RAHTY THREAD MEANS IN A 1.09M

Erwin Hart-wither, Winterthur, Switeeriand, assignor to Suizer Freres, S.A., Winterthur, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed 52315 15, 196i er. No. 43,1ii2 Claims priority, application Switzerland July 17, 1959 5 Claims. (1. 139-126) different, selected positions in response to control signals corresponding to a predetermined sequence of weft thread insertions whereby a cam element effects two positions of the carrier. By using a plurality of cam elements, more than two different positions of the carrier may be effected. The cam elements are individually provided with a clutch which connects the respective cam element to a motor operator, the individual clutches being engaged in a sequence which is determined by the aforesaid signals which are produced in the desired sequence by a master controller. The motor operators are preferably periodically actuated by the main drive of the weaving machine and adapted to move the cam element through a pre determined path. The clutches are periodically disengaged by means of a control mechanism actuated also by the main drive of the weaving machine.

Mechanisms for changing shuttles are known, including periodically actuated gears which are'in permanent engagement with lifter gears whereby the driving gears are rotatably mounted on a shaft which is intermittently driven by the main loom drive, the driving gears being either connected to the shaft to rotate therewith or being free of the shaft and arrested by suitable arresting means, in response to cards determining the desired sequence of threads to be inserted into the shed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for selectively positioning a carrier for a plurality of means instrumental to the insertion of different weft threads into a shed formed by warp threads whereby the mechanism is controlled in response to a conventional card-controlled mechanism for actuating the heald frames, i.e., the card-controlled shedding mechanism does not only control the heald frames but also the means for selectively inserting weft threads into the shed.

The mechanism according to the invention includes a regulating element or lever which has one point connected to a master controller which also controls the shedding mechanism, so that the lever receives orders from the master controller; a second point of the lever is operatively connected to a cam element which is preferably intermittently driven by the main loom drive to which it is selectively connected by a clutch; a third point of the lever is connected .to means for engaging the clutch in response to the relative positions of the first two points. A clutch disengaging mechanism is periodically actuated and placed in clutch disengaging position by the main loom drive, no matter whether the clutch is engaged or disengaged at the moment the clutch engaging mechanism is actuated. The cam element controls the position of a cam follower which is operatively connected to the carrier and the cam element is adapted to effect two different positions of the carrier for selectively inserting two different weft threads into the shed whereby the difierence of the weft threads may be a difference in color, material, quality, and the like.

I The mechanism according to the invention may be modified to include two cams whereby each cam element is controlled by a different oscillating lever of the cardcontrolled mechanism and the cam followers are mounted at the ends of a two-arm lever Whose fulcrum is supported by an element connected to the carrier and whose position depends on the relative angular position of the two cam elements. In this way, the carrier may be placed into four different positions.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the mechanism according to 7 the invention.

'nism.

FIG. 5 is a part sectional top view of another detail of the mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relative position of parts of the mechanism during one revolution of the main shaft of the weaving machine.

FIGS. 7 to '10 are diagrammatic illustrations of the main parts of the mechanism in different operating positions.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawing, numeral 10 designates a housing for the control mechanism according to the invention; A sprocket wheel 11 which is driven by the main drive shaft of the weaving machine at half speed of the drive shaft'by means of gears, not shown, is arranged outside of the housingltl.

A roller 12 and a locking element 13 are mounted on the wheel 11 and are adapted to be received in slots 14 and cutouts 15, respectively, of a Geneva gear 16 which is mounted at the end of a control shaft 21 on which also a gear 17 is mounted. The latter engages a gear 18 Which is mounted on a control shaft 22. The gears 17 and 18 and the shafts to which they are connected are periodically revolved by the Geneva gear through an angle of at each half revolution of the'wheel 11. Bushings 23 and 24 are rotatable on the shafts 21 and 22, respectively. These bushings are provided with earns 25 and 26 and with looking discs 27 and 28, respectively.

The forward ends of the bushings 23 and 24, to which the cams 25 and 26 are connected, are provided with claws 31 and 32, respectively, and form halves of claw clutches. The mating halves 35 and 36 of the claw clutches are provided withclaws 33'and 34, respectively.

The clutch halves 35 and 36 are axially movable on the shafts 21 and 22, but cannot rotate on them. Compression springs '37 and 3% resting on transverse elements 47 which are rigidly connected tothe shafts are provided for pressing the clutch halves 35,36 against the bushings 23, 24. The clutch halves 35 and 36 are provided with double flanges'dl and 42, respectively. Hooks 4 3 provided 3 be received in an annular groove between the flanges of the double flanges 4i and 42 for retaining the clutch halves 35 and 36 against the action of the springs 37 and 38 in a position where the claws 33 and 34 are disengaged from the claws 31 and 32.

The catch elements 44 and 45 swing on pins 46 mounted on the transverse elements 147. The catch elements are in the form of angular. levers having arms which extend from the pins 46 towards the rotation axes of the shafts 21 and 22. The ends of these arms extend into annular grooves 48 of pins 49 which are inserted in axial bores 52 in the ends of the shafts 21 and 22 and which are urged outwardly by means of springs 51.

The sprocket wheel 11 is mountedat the end of a shaft 53 which is provided with groove earns 54 and 55, rollers 56 and 57 at the ends of arms 58 and 59 running in the grooves of thecams 54 andl55. The arm 53 is connected to a shaft 61 which carries two'additiona-l arms 62 and 62' (FIG. 3). Rollers 63 are mounted on the lower endsof the arms 58, 62 and 62, the rollers cooperating with the side of the double flanges 41 and 42 facing the bushings 23 and24, respectively. The arm 59 is mounted on ashaft 64 which is placed alongside the shaft 61 in the housing and carries an arm 65 which is connected by means of a link 66 to an arm 67 (FIG. 4) whose purpose will be described later,

Cam follower rollers 68 and 69 .engagethe cam surfaces of the camsZS and 26', respectively (FIG. 3). The rollers 68 and 69 are mounted at the endsof a balance member 71. A link 72 connects the member ilto an arm 73 extending from a shaft 74. On the upper end of the link 72 a spring 'plate'75 is provided which is pressed and 95 are interposed between friction Washers 101 and 192 (FIG. 5) which are pressed against the levers by springs Ill-3. The washers 191 are axially movable on the pins 1&5 but are prevented from rotation thereon by means of keys 194. The levers 94 and 95 are provided with abutments 196 which are adapted to abut against abutments107 which are, preferably, adjustably connected to the housing 19. The abutments 137 limit the angular movement of the levers 94 and 95. i

The pins 195 are provided with arms 108 (FIG. 1) which are connected by means of links 169 to levers lit} and 111 which'swing on a shaft 113 which is located in the housing 112 of a jacquard shedding mechanism. The

' levers 110 and 111 are actuated in the conventional mannor, for example, in response to apertures in cards. The

' ating cycle which corresponds to one revolution of the main shaft of the weaving machine.

Since a jacquard shedding mechanism is used as master controller and all heddle frames which must be moved are actuated simultaneously, weft threads cannot be changed before'beginning of the closing of the shed, which beginupward by means of a spring 76 which is provided inside I and rests on a cup 77 mounted on the housing 19. The spring 76 makes sure that the rollers 68 and 69 are always pressed against the earns and 26.. A carrier 78 for supporting a plurality of thread feeders or thread inserting'elements is mounted on the shaft 74 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 7 to 10. The carrier '78 is provided with grooves a to d extending parallel to the shaft 74. In

these grooves thread feeders, elements for pulling back threads, shuttles, weft thread inserting needles, or other inserting elements are received. Shafts 33 and 84 which are supported in the housing 19 carry bushings S1 and 82, respectively, which are provided with arms 79 and 3d,

balance member 71 are individuallyreceived between the prongs of said ends and supported thereby. The roller 69 runs on a pin 86 which is supported by the arm 39 and extends through. one endof the member 71. The roller 68 is supported by a pin 85 extending through the .second' end of the member 71. Slides 87 are rotatable on the pin 85 and slide in slots at the end of the arm 79.

88 provided in the prongs ning cannot be before a weft thread has been inserted in the shed and at the latest shortly before completion of the weft thread insertion. The weft threads must be changed so long before the weft insertion that there is sufficient time to seize the new thread by the thread in sertion element. 7

The levers 110 and 111 are actuated according to the movements demanded by the shedding mechanism. The movements of the levers 119 and 111 are transmitted through the drag levers 94 and =95, the levers 91 and92, the segments 97 and 98 to the control elements 99 and 1%. The latter control the clutches 35 and 36 and the cams 25 and '26 which control the position of the balance member 71 and of the carrier '78.

The shed is closed at a moment which depends on the type of weave and material used. The Diagram A shows respectively, having bifurcated ends. The ends of the of the lever 92 ispivoted at a" to one end of a link 931 r 7 whose second end is pivoted ma lever 95. One end of 'a link 96 is pivoted to the lever 91 at a point c between points a and b, the other end of the link96 being con nected to a lever 97 provided with a toothed segment which engages the teeth of an element 99 for controlling the engagement of the clutch 35. 'A link 96' has one end pivoted at c" to the lever 92; The second end of the link .96 is pivoted to a lever 98 provided with a toothed segment engaging the teeth of a control element 109 for efiecting engagementof the clutch 36. The actuation of V the clutches 35 and 36 will be described later.

The levers 94 and, are swingably supportedon pins (FIG. 5.). .The thus supported ends of the levers 94 the earliest possible moment for closing the shed at an angular movement of the main loom shaft through e; Diagram B shows the latest possible moment g for closing the shed. When operating according to the Diagram A, the levers 110, 111 begins to move at d. When operating according to the Diagram B, the levers 110, 111 begin to move at f. The movement of the levers 110 and 111 corresponds to the stroke of the heald frames and is rather great. The angular movement of the main shaft of the loom from position 01 to position e", or from position f to position g is also great so that the weft thread would be changed too late, if the control elements 99 and i would be actuated when the shed is closed. 1 7

Use of the drag levers 94 and 95'permits actuationof the control elements 99 and 100 at the desired moment. Movement of the levers 94 and 95 begins simultaneously with the movement of the levers 119 and 111 either at d or at f", or a position therebetween. Since the paths of thepoint a of the lever 91 and of the point a" of the lever 92 can be small, the angular movement of the levers 94 and 95 which is defined by the abutments 107 can also be very small. Therefore, actuation of the control elements 99 and is already completed at h" or k, as shown in Diagram C.

The forward ends of the pins forming the control elements 99 and 109, i.e. the ends of the pins projecting outside of the front wall of the housing 10, are provided with diametrical grooves 116 placed normal to each other. 1 These grooves are wider than the thickness of control received in a groove 116 which is in vertical position at the moment the respective arm 114 swings towards the element 99 or 109', i.e., swings counterclockwise in FIG. 4. The depth of the grooves 116 is such that the elements 99 or 100 are not axially moved when the elements 115 cooperate with the elements 99 or 100 in the aforedescribed manner.

One of the grooves 116 is in vertical position whenever the respective toothed segment 97 or 98 is in an extreme position which is the case when the points a and b of the lever 91 or the points a" and b of the lever 92 are at the same elevation, for example, as shown in FIG. 7. If they are at diiferent elevations, as shown at the right side of FIG. 8 or at the left side of FIG. 9, the elements 97 and 98 are in an intermediate position and there is no groove 116 in vertical position. In this case, a disc 115 abuts against the head of the control elements 99 or 100 which has no groove in a vertical position. Since the disc 115 cannot move into a groove 116 the respective pin 49 will be driven into the bore 52 of the respective shaft 21 or 22. This causes swinging of the respective catch levers 44 or 45 so that their hooks 43 are disengaged from the respective clutch half 35 or 36 which can now be moved into clutch engaging position by the respective spring 37 or 38.

The Diagram D shows the movement of the arms 67, 114 which begins at m, the innermost position of the arm 114 being obtained at n. The arms 114 are in the idle position at p.

The Diagram E illustrates the movement of the catch levers 4 and 45. At the position r", a disc 115 engages a control element 99 or 100; the catch levers 44 and 45, however, are not moved until the main loom shaft reaches the angular position .9. At the position t, the

hooks 43 slide from the flanges 41 or 42 so that the respective clutch or 36 is engaged.

The Diagram F illustrates the timing of the clutch engagement operation. The claws 34 are received in the gaps between the counterclaws 33 at the position it? so that the shafts 21, 22 which are periodically driven by the main loom shaft can rotate the cams 25 and 26 through a predetermined angle which corresponds to the extent of the period during which the shafts are rotated. The

period is defined by the Geneva gear 16.

The Diagram G shows the timing of the actuation of the cams 25 and 26 which takes place between v and w.

The shafts 21 and 22 may be driven continuously. This would necessitate engagement and disengagement of the clutches while the shafts rotate. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the clutches are engaged and disengaged when the shafts 21 and 22 and the cams 25 and 26 are at a standstill. This avoids knocks and vibrations and makes the control operation accurate.

After rotation of the shafts 21 and 22 through 90", the roller 56 at the end of the arm 58 is moved downward in FIG. 2 by the groove in the-groove cam 54. This causes swinging of arm 58, of the shaft 61 connected thereto and of the arm 62. The rollers 63 (FIG. 5) are, therefore, moved downward in FIG. 2, taking along the flange 41 of the engaged clutch 35 against the action of the spring'37 and'moving the flange 41 until the hooks 43 are received in the annular groove of the flange. Disengagement of the clutch occurs at the moment x in the Diagram F of FIG. 6. The hooks 43 are received in the groove of the flange 41 at m The disengagement movement is eifected at every op erating cycle, notwithstanding whether a clutch is engaged or not, because the groove cam 54 is mounted on the continuously rotating shaft 53. V

In order to secure the position of the. cams 25, 26,

locking discs 27 and 28 are provided, each dischaving four recesses 117 in which locking rollers 118 may be pressed by means of springs 119 (FIG. 3).

The carrier 78 may be similarly securedin the selected position. Referring more particularly to FIG. 7, a lock member 120' having four recesses 121 is provided at one end of the carrier element 78, a pawl 122 mounted at the end of a lever 123 being adapted to be received in one of the recesses 121. The lever 123 is connected by means of a linkage 124 to a cam drive, not shown, and is so actuated that the pawl 122 is pulled out of a recess 121 according to the Diagram H in FIG. 6, i.e. after the moment an", whereas the carrier 78 is not moved before the angular position bb shown in Diagram K has been reached by the main loom shaft.

If the shafts 21 and '22 are continuously driven, the locking rollers 118 for the locking discs 27 and 28 would have to be positively controlled.

FIGS. 7 to 10 diagrammatically illustrate the positions of the mechanism in the casing It} at different phases of the execution of an order given by the'master controller in the casing 112.

FIG. 7 shows the mechanism in the position after th last order given by the master controller. There is no new'order as yet. The drag lever 94- and the control lever 91 are in uppermost position. Since the roller 68 is also in the uppermost position, the controllever 91 is in horizontal position; the control lever 92 is also horizontal, but is in the lowermost position as are the roller 69 and the drag lever 95.

The segments 97 and 93 are in one of their extreme positions so that a groove 11 6 of the control elements 99 and 1% is in vertical position. The arms 67 and the control discs 115 can swing onto the elements 99 and 1M) without engaging the disengaged clutches 35 and 36. The earns 25 and 26, the follower rollers 68' and 69, and the balance member 71 with the link 72 form a drive which can'place the carrier 78 into four positions a to d although the ro1lers68 and 69 can assume only two different positions. For this purpose the link 72 is pivoted to the member 71 at a point 125 which is two thirds of the length of the member 71 from the left end of the member 71 and one-third from the right end of the member.

Since the roller 69 is in the lowermost position and the roller 68 in the uppermost position, the carrier 78 is in a position in which, for example, a thread feeder in the groove 12 is in the position to present a weft thread to a weft thread inserting element, not shown.

FIG. '8 showsthe mechanism in the position after a new order has been placed by the master controller. The lever 111 has been lowered and, therefore, the lever 95 has been raised as well as the point a" of the control lever 92. No order has been placed for the left side of the mechanism so that this portion of the mechanism is retained in the position shown in FIG. 7.

Since point a" of the control lever 92 is in the upper position and point'b is in the lower position because of the. position of the roller 69 following .the cam 26,

the segment 98 is in an intermediate position, having revolved the control element 100 so that the grooves 116 are in an inclined position. The arm 67 has not yet been actuated and the clutch 36 is still disengaged so I per position and the member 71 is horizontal and in its upper position. Therefore, the groove d of the, carrier 78 is now in the line of the shuttle path 126, in case the carrier is used for placing selected weft thread feeders in position to present a weft thread to a shuttle.

FIG. 9 shows the left side of the mechanism also in a position in which a signal has been supplied thereto by The 1 7 ment of the cams 25 and 26 7 the master controller. The lever 11% has been lifted and the lever 94 has been lowered, i.e., turned counterclockwise. Therefore, the point a of the controllever 91 has been moved to its lower position Whereas the point b is still in the upper position. The segment 97, which is now in an intermediate position, has rotated the control element 99 to'a position in which the grooves 116 are inclined; Thereupon the groove cam 54 swings the arms 58 and 62.

If the arm 67 is again actuated, the device is brought to the position shown in FIG. 10. The control element 99 is pushed inward whereby the catch levers 44 are spread apart and the clutch 35 is engaged by the action of the spring 37. In the meantime, the pawl 122 has been released from the lock member: 120. The shaft 21 and the cam 25 are rotated through 90 whereby the roller 68 is moved to its lower position. The roller 69 remains in its upper position so that the member 71 places the carrier 78 into a position in which the groove c' is in the shuttle picking line 126. V

The movements of the individual elements of the mechanisrn according to the invention take place in the se- 'ing means being connected to said control member, and

ing 10 need not be operated in reverse because the fulcrums b and b" of the levers 91 and 92 afford automatic placement of the carriers in the desired position.

If the weaving machine is now operated in reverse, it may be possible, that the carrier 7.8 is already in the position which corresponds to the weft thread which must be replaced. The rollers 68 and 69 are therefore already in the correct position when the control signal arrives and the points b and I), are in the desired positions. Therefore, it the levers 94 and 95 move according to the signal, the levers 91 and 92 are moved into the horizontal position. There is no engagement of a clutch.

Without departing from the scope of the'present in-:

ventiomthe shafts 21 and 22 maybe driven by means other than the Geneva gear, as long as these means elfect a stand-still after each turning or partial turning of the shafts 21'and 22 so that, for example, the angular moveone of said means is ready for insertion of a selected" weft thread into the shed, said control system comprising a driving means, a control element drivenby said driving means, a cam element, a clutch interposed between said control element and said cam element, a master controller for determining the sequence of weft threads to be inserted in the shed, clutch engaging means operatively' (Diagram G in 6) can.

connected to said clutch, actuating means connected to and driven by said driving means and including a periodically active member, said clutch engaging means including a control member movable into a position where it can be engaged by said periodically activemember, means connected to said driving means and to said clutch and including means periodically actuated by said driving means and adapted to disengage said clutch, a linkage interposed between said master controller and said control member, said linkage including a regulating element operatively connected to and responsive to said master controller and operatively connected to and responsive to the position of said cam element, said regulating element being operatively connected to said control member for placing the latter in a position where said periodically active member engages or does not engage said control member, and means operatively connected to and responsive to the position of said cam element and connectedto said carrier member for placing said carrier in theselected positions.

2. In a loom for Weaving as defined in claim 1 and wherein said regulating element is in the form of a lever,

said linkage including a link pivoted to one end of said lever, means being pivoted to the second end of said lever and operatively connected to said cam .element, positiona link being pivoted to an intermediate point of said lever and to said positioning means.

3. In a loom for weaving as defined in claim 1 and wherein said linkage includes a shaft, means interconmeeting said shaft and said master controller for oscillating' said shaft by said master controller, a lever having one end frictionally connected to said shaft, a link pivoted to the free end of said lever and to said regulating element, anda stationary abutment adapted to be abutted by said lever for limiting the extent of angular movement of said lever. a

4. In a loom for weaving as defined in claim 1, a shaft, an arm fast on said shaft, a follower roller mounted on the free end of said arm and engaging said cam element,

and -a second arm fast on said shaft and having a free a into a position where said portion of said periodicallyactive member is at an angle with'rcspect to said groove and,

engages said pin for pushing said pin in axial direction for engaging said clutch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pfarrwaller Dec. 13, 1955 2,783,778 Pfarrwaller -Mar. 5, 1957 2,817,367 Pfarrwaller Dec. 24,-1957 2,884,014 vFisher et a1. IApr. 28, 1959 

